'Ukraine not yet ready' for negotiations with Russia, Nuland says
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Regarding the possibility of Ukraine retaking Crimea by force, Nuland offered a vague response, suggesting it was a decision for the Ukrainian people to make.
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State Department Under Secretary for Public Affairs Victoria J. Nuland speaks during a briefing at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
Former Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland on Saturday told Politico that Ukraine lacks the necessary strength to engage in negotiations with Russia to resolve the ongoing armed conflict.
When questioned about whether it was a mistake not to encourage Kiev to pursue peace talks with Russia in 2022, she answered: "They were not in a strong enough position then. They’re not in a strong enough position now."
Any potential agreement in 2022 or presently would hinge on Russia's reluctance to relinquish any of the territories it acquired, she said, noting that such a deal would ultimately prove unsustainable.
Regarding the possibility of Ukraine retaking Crimea by force, Nuland offered a vague response, suggesting it was a decision for the Ukrainian people to make. However, she noted previous acknowledgments by US officials of the potential for Ukraine to forcefully regain control over the peninsula.
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The conflict in Ukraine stems from the 2014 Euromaidan revolts, triggered by then-President Yanukovych's decision to suspend an EU association agreement in favor of closer ties with Russia.
In February 2014, violent clashes between protesters and security forces led to numerous casualties and prompted Yanukovych to flee Ukraine, which led to a coup d'etat and the establishment of a Western-backed interim government.
In March 2014, due to high rates of aggression on ethnic Russians in Ukraine, Russia decided to annex Crimea from Ukraine. Ukraine attempted to regain control of these territories but failed to achieve its goal.
In September 2014, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) announced plans to mediate a ceasefire agreement known as the Minsk Agreement to halt the fighting and establish a framework for a political resolution.
It was later revealed in December 2022 that the ceasefire was part of a plot to "give Ukraine time" to strengthen itself, according to ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which effectively constitutes a betrayal towards Russia.
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On February 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed that the only thing to lament is that Russia did not begin military operations in Ukraine sooner.
"The only thing we can regret is that we did not start our active actions [in Ukraine] earlier, believing that we were dealing with decent people," Putin told Rossiya 1.
He further stated that former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's trip to Ukraine in 2022 was funded by the US government, as he was unable to visit the country without first informing Washington when he encouraged Kiev to refrain from holding negotiations with Moscow.
"Former Prime Minister Mr. Johnson could not have traveled [to Ukraine] on his own personal initiative without consulting Washington on the matter. Probably, not only were there such consultations, but I think he simply went on the business trip at the expense of the US administration. They paid him travel expenses for this."
